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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. J. TURNER.

DEVICE FOR AGTUATING SIGNALS, SWITCHES, &c.

No. 374,914. Patented Dec. 13, 1887.

NY PETERS. Fholwlilhogmpher, Washington. D; C.

2" SheetsSheet 2.

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J. J. TURNER.

DEVICE FOR AGTUATING SIGNALS, SWITCHES, 6L0. N0. 374,914. Patented D80. 13, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. TURN ER, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JOHN F. MILLER, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVlCE FOR ACTUATING SIGNALS, SWITCHES, 800.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,914, dated December 13, 1887.

Application filed March 3, 1887. Serial No. 229,489.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES J. TURNER, of Richmond, county of Wayne,State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement 1n Devices for Actuating Signals, Switches, and Switch-Locks, of which the following is a true and exact description, due reference belng had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient device whereby a single operating-lever may be made to actuate two or more independent signals, switches, orswitchlocks; and it consists of a link arrangement having a movable fulcrum actuated by one of the operating-levers, said link having an OS- cillating motion given to it by means of another operating'lever, and in turn actuating a switch-signal or switch-lock in one direction or another, according to the position of its fulcrum, or operating one of two attached switches, signals, or switch-locks connected to the link at different points; also, in a special arrangement of my improved links, whereby the position of a switch is made to regulate and govern which of two signals or signals and switch-locks connected with an operating-lever shall be actuated, and in the special devices hereinafter described, and which I have found to be efficient in adapting my invention to use.

Reference being had to the accompanying drawings,whicl1 illustrate my invention in two modes of application, Figure 1 illustrates my improved link arrangement as adapted to actuate either of two switches, &c., according to the position of the lever which regulates the position of the fulcrum-point. Fig. 2 shows the device of Fig. 1 in perspective, showing also an adaptation of my link arrangement by which the change of the fulcrum position results in changing the direction of motion given to a switch orswitch-lock. Fig. 3 is a front view of the combined link arrangementshown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a View of the link device for changing the direction of movement of its connected element, showing in dotted lines the different motions given to the link by the same impulse; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the devices shown in Figs. 2 and 3, showing also their operating-levers and connections (No model.)

therewith, the whole being organized to carry out a particular design, as hereinafter described.

A, A, and A are operating-levers, such as are ordinarily contained in the lever-frame of an ordinary railway signal-tower.

B B, &c., are T-heads at the ends of levers A A, &c.

O is a connectingrod pivoted to lever A at B and to a bell-crank, F, at c; G, a connect ing-rod leading to a switch and actuated by the other end of bell-crank F.

E is a connecting-rod pivoted to lever A at B,and at its other end to a lever-arm, llLwhich is secured to and actuates a rotating shaft, on.

L and L are also lever-arms secured to shaft on and having forked lifting-arms K K, pivoted to their outer extremities at Z and Z.

It k are pivots secured in the ends of the forked levers K K and in guides forming part of the stationary frame-work and running substantially parallel with the slot in links J J when in their medial position, so that the pivots 76 may be moved from top to bottom of 7 5 said slots, but are held securely against lateral movement. These pivots serve as fulcrumpoints for the slotted links J J. These links are at theirlower ends provided with pins n a, which are secured in slotted guides N N.

I and I are respectively the rods by which the links J and J are actuated, and these rods are in turn operated through bell-cranks H and H and rods D and D by means of levers A and A 0 and O are operating'conuections secured to the link J, and by means of which two signals or other devices are respectively oper ated. The rod I is secured to the link Jin the middle of the slot, and the lines 0 and O are fastened at points in line with the two extremities of the slot, so that that line which is at the point of the slot where the fulcrum-pin it rests is not moved when the link is moved, while the other line fastened at the free end of the slot is moved.

In Fig. 1, the fulcrum k being at the bottom 'of the slot, the dotted lines J represent the movement of the link, 0 its effect on the line 0, and the fulcrum being at the top at 70 the dotted lines J 3 represent the movement of link J, and 0 its effect on line 0'.

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In the case of link J, which has but one operating-connection, R, the actuating-shaft I is secured in such position with relation to the slot that the travel of the point below the slot to which rod R is connected will be the same in either direction, according as the fulcrum 7c is at the top or bottom of the slot.

In Fig. 4 are illustrated the difi'erent motions given to the link J, according to the position of the fulcrum, and it will be noticed that this arrangement of the link is well adapted to operate a three-throw switch, and it is also suitable for operating a new double switch-lock, which I have invented and for which I am about to file an application for a patent, as well as to many other uses.

It is only necessary to call attention to the fact that the positions of the fulcrums KK are governed by the lever A through the shaft m and the devices already described.

Referring now to the special combination of links and actuating devices shown most clearly in Fig. 5, and which is designed for a special use-to wit, making the same signallever operate either one of the two signals on different lines, according as the switch is set for one or the other, and operating either one of two switch-locks to lock the switch in either positionG is the switch-connection actuated in the usual way by lever A. By means of a rod, E, also actuated by lever A, as shown, the fulcrum-points k of the two oscillatinglinks J J are moved up and down, according to the position of the switch-lever and switch.

To link J, having its actuatingrod I at tached at the middle of its slot, are connected the signal-lines O 0, one of which is thrown out of operative position and the other into operative position by each movement of the fulcrum 7c in the slot, as is evident. The signal to be operated is thus governed by the position of the switch, the signal on the disconnectedline being left in the dangerposition.

To link J, having the two extremes of its slot arranged with respect to the point of connection z" of rod I, so that the movement of the point where rod R is attached shall be substantially the same in extent in either direction, is attached the rod R, which may be connected with a double bell-crank lever having switch-locks attached at each extremity-- such as described in another application w-hichIam about to file-so that either one of the said connected locks'will be operated according to the position of the fulcrum; or any other desired connection with other switches, looks, or signals may be made through said rod R.

WVhile I prefer to use slots, as shown in my links and guides, it is of course evident that sleeves or any other well-known device for making a movable pivoted connection between two pieces of mechanism may be substituted for such slots, and I do not wish to be understood as' limiting my claims to the particular kinds of connections and points shown in the drawings.

Having now described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device for actuating two or more switches, switch-locks, or signals by a single lever, the combination of the stationary guide N, the link J, pivoted to said guide at one end and having a movable fulcrum, a device for regulating the position of the movable fulcrum, a device for operating link J, attached to it between the extreme positions of the movable fulcrum, and one or more connections to the device or devices to be actuated, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a device for actuating two or more switches, switch-locks, or signals by a single lever, the combination of the stationary guide N, the link J, pivoted to said guide at one end and having a movable fulcrum secured to a forked connecting rod extending over the said link, a device for regulating the position of the movable fulcrum through the forked connecting-rod, a device for operating link J, attached to it between the extreme positions of the movable fulcrum, and one or more connections to the device or devices to be actuated, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a device for operating two or more signals, switches, or switch-locks by a single lever, the combination of the stationary guide N, a link pivoted at one end in said guide, a movable fulcrum sliding along said link, one or more operating-connections attached to said link, a fulcrum-holding device connected with and moved by one of the levers in the signalhouse, substantially as described, a device for moving the link, and through it the operating connection or connections secured between the extreme positions of the movable fulcrum, and a lever in the signal-house connected with said link-moving device and actuating it, substantially as described.

4. In a device for actuating either of two lines of connection with switches, switch-locks,

or signals, the combination of the stationary guide N, the link J, pivoted at one end to said guide and having a fulcrum-pivot movable along its length, a device for moving said fulcrum-pivot, connecting-lines O O, secured to the link at the two extreme points between which the fulcrum-pivot moves, and a device for moving the link on its pivot, connected with the link at a point midway between the extreme points of the fulcrum-pivots move ment, all substantially as described, so that one connecting-line remains stationary while the other is operated.

5. In a switch and signal actuating device, the lever A, connecting with the switch-actuating connection G and with a fulcrum holding and actuating device, K, substantially as shown and described, in combination with a fixed guide, a link, J, secured at one end in said guide and pivoted on the movable fulcrum, the lever A, connected with and actuating the link, substantially as specified, and

one or more connecting-lines attached to the link, as and for the purpose shown and described.

6. In a switch and signal actuating device, the lever A, connecting with the switch-actuating connection G and with two fulcrum holding and moving devices, K K, substantially as shown and described, in combination with fixed guides, links J J, pivoted at one end in said guides and having slots for the movable fulcrums arranged with respect to their points of attachment to their actuating rods, substantially as shown and described, connections 0 0, attached to link J at the extreme points of the fulcrumslot, a connection, R, attached to link J at a point where the movement about each end of the fulcrum-slot is substantially the same, and connections with the operatinglevers to said links, all substantially as andv for the purpose shown and described.

JAMES J. TURNER. Witnesses:

LISLE SToKEs, JOSHUA MATLAOK, Jr. 

